[CAR REVIEW] Omoda 5: Sleek, Portable, Practical, Release Date Unknown

In 2023, despite the overall economic situation and the declining auto market in Vietnam, consumers have witnessed the entry of several famous brands from across the border. Among them are Zotye – Baic – Hongqi, and the MG brand has already made its debut, while Wuling is bringing the world’s best-selling electric car model to the market. Recently, we have seen the arrival of Haval, and soon, Lynk & Co will make its debut as well.

The big name, Chery, has yet to formally enter the market, even though it has been conducting exploratory activities for over three years. According to leaked information, Chery Tiggo 8 Pro and Omoda 5 will be the first models the brand brings to Vietnam. Omoda 5 has already completed the necessary procedures to register its industrial design protection in Vietnam, a prerequisite for its official entry into the market.

Let’s take a closer look at “Chery’s trump card” – the Omoda 5 SUV from the perspective of Australian car experts to gain a better understanding of the brand’s strengths in the Vietnamese market.

The first thing that stands out about Chery Omoda 5 is its impressive exterior design, which is modern and innovative. The front of the car breaks all boundaries with its diamond-patterned grille.

The slim square-shaped LED daytime running lights complement the main lighting cluster neatly integrated into the air intake. Overall, the front of the Omoda 5 stands out from other affordable cars.

The body design gives the car a sporty look, combining a coupe-style sloping roof with gradually rising doors. The A, B, C-pillars, roof, side sills, and front/rear fascia are all painted in eye-catching black.

The wheels are stunning with their glossy black 5-spoke 18-inch sports rims with red accents. The red-black color scheme is also seen on the side mirrors, adding a youthful and individual touch. The rear of the car features LED taillights with a broken-line shape and a dual fake exhaust tailpipe, exuding a sporty style.

If you pay attention, you’ll notice that the Omoda 5 incorporates design elements from the best-selling Lexus RX series by the Japanese luxury brand. However, Chery Omoda has not copied it verbatim. Instead, they have learned from it and improved upon it, creating a more impressive design.

The Chinese automaker cleverly offers a range of exterior equipment as optional extras, allowing customers to customize their cars according to their preferences. For example, customers can choose from a selection of metallic exterior paint colors, or a two-tone roof paint.

Entering the interior, passengers are greeted with a surprisingly luxurious cabin, especially for a mass-market car. The seats are made of thick leather, providing a sporty and comfortable feel. The contrasting sporty accents, electric adjustments, and full heating and cooling capabilities add to the luxurious and appealing aesthetic, complemented by the neat black color scheme.

Chery cars are also equipped with luxurious features, such as a D-cut sports steering wheel, two horizontally customizable 10.25-inch screens with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a soft plastic dashboard cover, electronic gear lever with driving mode adjustment, backlight changing, 8 Sony entertainment speakers, touch-type air conditioning controls, a sunroof, and a transparent Start/Stop button, reminiscent of “AMG” sports “Mercedes Benz”.

Despite its sporty design, the interior space of the car is remarkably spacious. The driver enjoys ample legroom, making long-distance travel comfortable. The rear seats feature armrests, thick backrest cushions, charging ports, separate air vents, and convenient storage compartments—adding to the overall convenience and comfort of the Omoda 5.

The luggage compartment of Omoda 5 offers an acceptable capacity of 360 liters with the rear seats up. Although slightly larger than the MG ZS (359 liters), it falls short of the Nissan Qashqai (418 liters) or the GWM Haval Jolion (430 liters). However, when the rear seats are folded down, the Omoda 5 can accommodate up to 1,075 liters of luggage. It should be noted that the rear seats cannot be folded, which may be a slight inconvenience.

Now, let’s talk about performance. The Chery Omoda 5 is equipped with a 1.5L turbocharged I4 engine, code-named 230T. This engine delivers 145 horsepower and 210 Nm of torque when paired with a CVT gearbox. The car runs on Ron 91 petrol (equivalent to E5 – Ron 91 in Vietnam).

In terms of performance, the Omoda 5 provides smooth power delivery in Eco mode. Even with a gentle press of the accelerator, the car exhibits smooth and consistent performance throughout the rev range. In Sport mode, the Omoda 5 produces a slightly more exciting sound. Overall, the Chery Omoda 5 meets the daily driving needs of most users.

For those seeking more power, Chery offers Omoda 5 models equipped with a 1.6L turbocharged I4 engine, generating up to 195 horsepower and 290 Nm of torque. These models come with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and a 4-wheel drive system. Additionally, Chery has plans to introduce an all-electric version of the Omoda 5 to compete with rivals such as the Byd Atto, MG 4, and GWM Ora.

The steering on the Omoda 5 may feel slightly numb in terms of response, but it offers a gentle and agile feel. Maneuvering and parking in tight spaces become much easier. The suspension system is not particularly impressive, providing a comfortable ride on smooth asphalt roads, but it can be slightly bumpy on uneven or rough surfaces, especially when cornering at high speeds.

In the past, the Omoda 5 received complaints about its driver-assist system (ADAS) excessively interfering with steering operations, causing annoyance. However, after software updates, the driving experience with the Omoda 5 has become much more enjoyable, with no issues reported during the review process.

Despite this, the Omoda 5 should not be underestimated in terms of safety. It has achieved the ANCAP 5-star safety rating in Oceania (Australia and New Zealand), which is considered to be a higher standard than Asean NCAP in Southeast Asia. The car is equipped with advanced safety features, including adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, emergency automatic braking, emergency lane keeping, rear cross-traffic assist, blind-spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, front and rear sensors, a 360-degree camera system, and 7 airbags.

The manufacturer claims a fuel consumption rate of 6.9 L/100 km based on the WLTP cycle. In real-world usage, the Chery Omoda 5 consumes approximately 10.4 L/100 km on mixed roads, primarily urban. The 50-liter fuel tank offers enough capacity for about a week of daily use. These figures are within an acceptable range.

In the Australian market, Chinese automakers are fiercely competing in the small SUV segment. Among them, the MG ZS, owned by SAIC, holds a 25% market share, making it the market leader. Great Wall Motor’s Haval Jolion, the younger sibling of the Haval H6 recently launched in Vietnam, follows closely with a 7.2% market share in Australia.

Other notable competitors include the Subaru Crosstrek, Kia Seltos, Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, Volkswagen T-Roc, and Toyota C-HR. With a total of 23 car brands competing in the compact SUV segment, the Australian market is known for its fierce competition.

In such a competitive market, Chery aims to secure its position by offering attractive on-road prices for the Omoda 5, starting from just $32,990 ($780 million VND) and up to $35,990 (~$850 million VND). The Chinese brand understands that in order to be successful, the car must offer more attractive features and be more affordably priced than its competitors.

In addition, Chery provides a comprehensive warranty policy, maintenance subsidies, and rescue services for all Omoda 5 cars in the Australian market, valid for 7 years. These customer-friendly policies give Chery an edge over other competitors. Thanks to its well-planned strategy, the Omoda 5 has outperformed popular models such as the Nissan Qashqai, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, and Skoda Kamiq in terms of sales in Australia.

Globally, in the first half of 2023, Chery sold 70,000 cars, which is quite promising considering their earlier target of 200,000 cars. However, what about Vietnam? The door for the Omoda 5 to enter the Vietnamese market is wide open. The real question is whether it will remain open for much longer, considering the increasing competition and the emergence of other local players. The future of the Omoda 5 in Vietnam is still uncertain.

Anh Phan (Tuoitrethudo)

Source: CarExpert